Alternatives · Writing
Typora alternatives
Typora compared with 9 alternatives: MarkText, Zettlr, iA Writer, Obsidian, Markdown Monster and 4 more.
Typora is a paid product with a free trial, starting at $14.99 one-time, before tax. 6 of the 9 alternatives are free or have a free plan. 3 more offer a free trial.
9 tools · Listings checked up to Oct 9, 2026 · Where the facts come from
At a glance
| Tool | Price | Free plan | Runs on |
|---|---|---|---|
| TyporaThis tool | Free trial · from $14.99 one-time | Trial only | macOS, Windows, Linux |
| MarkText | Free | Free | macOS, Windows, Linux |
| Zettlr | Free | Free | macOS, Windows, Linux |
| iA Writer | Free trial · from $19.99 one-time | Trial only | macOS, Windows, iOS |
| Obsidian | Free plan · from $4/mo | Yes | macOS, Windows, Linux, iOS, Android, Browser extension |
| Markdown Monster | Free trial · from $99 one-time | Trial only | Windows |
| Calmly Writer | Free plan · from $16.99 one-time | Yes | Web, macOS, Windows, Linux, Android |
| ghostwriter | Free | Free | Windows, Linux |
| Typst | Free plan · from $7.99/mo | Yes | Web, macOS, Windows, Linux |
| Ulysses | Free trial · from $39.99/yr | Trial only | macOS, iOS |
How each one differs from Typora
- Free
MarkText
Free, open-source Markdown editor with in-place live rendering
- MarkText is free. Typora starts at $14.99 one-time, before tax.
- MarkText has a free plan. Typora does not, though it has a free trial.
- MarkText is open source, according to its own site.
- Typora can be bought with a one-time purchase.
Suits: Writers who want Markdown rendered as they type, without a split preview
- Free
Zettlr
Free, open-source Markdown editor for academic writing
- Zettlr is free. Typora starts at $14.99 one-time, before tax.
- Zettlr has a free plan. Typora does not, though it has a free trial.
- Zettlr is open source, according to its own site.
- Typora can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Zettlr also covers linked notes, citations and long-form writing.
Suits: Researchers and students writing papers or theses in Markdown
- Free trial · from $19.99 one-time
iA Writer
Minimal plain-text Markdown writing app with Focus Mode
- iA Writer starts at $19.99 one-time (iPhone and iPad); $29.99 Windows, $49.99 Mac. Typora starts at $14.99 one-time, before tax.
- Only iA Writer lists an iOS app.
- Only Typora lists a Linux app.
- iA Writer also covers grammar & style.
Suits: Writers who want a bare Markdown editor with no toolbars
- Free plan · from $4/mo
Obsidian
Markdown note-taking app that keeps your files on your device
- Obsidian starts at $4 per user / month, billed annually (Sync Standard add-on). Typora starts at $14.99 one-time, before tax.
- Obsidian has a free plan. Typora does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Obsidian lists iOS and Android apps.
- Only Obsidian lists a browser extension.
- Obsidian is end-to-end encrypted, according to its own site.
Suits: People who want their notes as plain Markdown files they control
- Free trial · from $99 one-time
Markdown Monster
Markdown editor and weblog publisher for Windows
- Markdown Monster starts at $99 one-time per user (version 4 license). Typora starts at $14.99 one-time, before tax.
- Only Typora lists macOS and Linux apps.
Suits: Windows users who write documentation or blog posts in Markdown
- Free plan · from $16.99 one-time
Calmly Writer
Distraction-free Markdown writing app sold as a one-time purchase
- Calmly Writer starts at $16.99 one-time (Android); $23.90 one-time for Windows, Mac and Linux. Typora starts at $14.99 one-time, before tax.
- Calmly Writer has a free plan. Typora does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Calmly Writer lists a web app.
- Only Calmly Writer lists an Android app.
Suits: Writers who want a blank page and very few controls
- Free
ghostwriter
Free, open-source Markdown editor from KDE for focused writing
- ghostwriter is free. Typora starts at $14.99 one-time, before tax.
- ghostwriter has a free plan. Typora does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Typora lists a macOS app.
- ghostwriter is open source, according to its own site.
- Typora can be bought with a one-time purchase.
Suits: Linux and Windows users who want a free Markdown editor
- Free plan · from $7.99/mo
Typst
Markup-based typesetting system with a collaborative web app
- Typst starts at $7.99 per month, billed monthly ($79.99 billed yearly). Typora starts at $14.99 one-time, before tax.
- Typst has a free plan. Typora does not, though it has a free trial.
- Only Typst lists a web app.
- Typst is open source and self-hostable, according to its own site.
- Typora can be bought with a one-time purchase.
Suits: Students and researchers who want an alternative to LaTeX
- Free trial · from $39.99/yr
Ulysses
Markup-based writing app for Mac, iPad and iPhone
- Ulysses starts at $39.99 per year, or $5.99 per month. Typora starts at $14.99 one-time, before tax.
- Only Ulysses lists an iOS app.
- Only Typora lists Windows and Linux apps.
- Typora can be bought with a one-time purchase.
- Ulysses also covers long-form writing and grammar & style.
Suits: Writers who work only on Apple devices and want their texts on all of them
Limits worth knowing in Typora
- Desktop only: downloads are offered for macOS, Windows and Linux, with no mobile or web version listed.
- A license covers one person on up to 3 devices at a time, and no bulk or organization-wide license is offered.
- Under the license agreement, free updates do not include major updates such as a move from 1.x to 2.x.
- Typora is file-based and does not store documents; syncing between devices is left to services such as Dropbox or iCloud.
Common questions
What are the alternatives to Typora?
The alternatives to Typora in this directory are MarkText, Zettlr, iA Writer, Obsidian, Markdown Monster, Calmly Writer, ghostwriter, Typst and Ulysses. Each one has a side-by-side comparison with Typora.
Is there a free alternative to Typora?
Yes. MarkText, Zettlr and ghostwriter are free to use. Obsidian, Calmly Writer and Typst have a free plan alongside paid ones.
Which Typora alternatives work on Android?
The Typora listing does not include an Android app. Obsidian and Calmly Writer list one.
Which Typora alternatives work on iOS?
The Typora listing does not include an iOS app. iA Writer, Obsidian and Ulysses list one.
Is there an open-source alternative to Typora?
MarkText, Zettlr, ghostwriter and Typst are described as open source on their own sites.
When were these prices checked?
Each listing shows its own date. On this page they run from Oct 4, 2026 to Oct 9, 2026. Vendors change prices without notice, so confirm on their site before you buy.